Chapter 7: Awakening

"The total number of deceased villagers: 187 people, survivors: 17 people, all women. Their psychological state is unstable, and they have been given sedatives."

"The number of dead pirates: 37 people, including one wanted man named Jericho, nicknamed 'Slaughterer,' leader of the Slaughterer Pirates, with a bounty of 16 million Beli."

"After the initial investigation, it was determined that this incident was caused by the Slaughterer Pirates, who carried out a massacre in an extremely brutal manner."

In a state of confusion, it seemed to Rorschach that he could hear many voices echoing in his ears.

There were long intervals between these voices, making it difficult for him to hear them clearly, as if they were coming from behind a thick wall.

Rorschach was dreaming a long dream.

In this dream, he found himself in a world as beautiful as paradise.

There were two kind old people looking at him with loving eyes.

That world had no hunger, no pain, no despair, and no hatred.

Only a simple, peaceful life.

Fishing, collecting shells, weaving bamboo baskets, and sitting on the beach enjoying the sea breeze.

"Rorschach, the sun has risen. Today you will go out to sea with your father. Your father will take you to catch a 'King' fish. Your father says this fish is very precious. Last time, the village chief caught three of them. Do you know how much he sold them for?"

"Twenty thousand Beli each, three fish mean sixty thousand Beli!"

"We don't earn that much in a whole year."

"But Dad, twenty thousand Beli per fish, and three fish mean sixty thousand Beli, right?"

"Huh? That's right? Hahaha, it seems my son knows arithmetic. You are a genius. If you get a chance to go to Meros City, you will become a successful person there."

"Rorschach, this is a bamboo basket woven by your mother. What do you think? We added a small flower too. When you grow a little older, you will take it to collect shells and small fish from the beach."

"Mom, I am a boy; I don't like flowers."

"How come? This is a sunflower; it looks like the sun. They are the brightest flowers and the most suitable for brave men."

"But I want a bamboo knife."

"Rorschach."

"Rorschach."

"My child."

Outside the cabin.

Akainu was frowning, looking at the military doctor Desmond Doss, who was sweating profusely.

"Doss, did you treat that boy properly? Why has he not woken up after seven days?"

The young doctor Doss, in his thirties, holding a roll of bandages and wiping his sweat, answered nervously:

"My treatment method was entirely correct. The operation was successful; you were there the whole time, right? After stitching the wounds and a blood transfusion, his vital signs stabilized."

"His body recovered quickly, and he should have woken up already. If he hasn't woken up yet, either there is a problem with his brain, or... he doesn't want to wake up."

"Did you do anything to him these days?"

"No! Absolutely not! I didn't conduct any strange medical experiments on him. I'm innocent."

"Really?"

Akainu suspiciously looked at the little girl who was covering her mouth and laughing quietly.

Seeing her father's gaze, the girl didn't hesitate to make a small complaint.

"I saw Dr. Doss drawing blood from that person!"

"I did not, don't say that, Skye, it will lead to death!"

Doss's face turned pale, and he quickly turned to Skye, blinking frantically.

Suddenly, it seemed that the temperature on the deck dropped, making Doss feel a chill.

Shadowed by a large figure, he wanted to explain but felt someone lifting his shirt collar, then found himself flying off the deck and into the sea with a "splash."

"Swim around the ship 100 times! Don't come back for food until you're done!"

Akainu's loud voice came from the deck.

"No! I'm just a weak doctor, I'll die, Sakazuki!"

Akainu ignored the desperate cries from the sea and frowned, looking toward the cabin.

Boom!

There was a strong thud from inside the cabin, as if someone was hitting something hard.

Boom!

The sound was heavy and powerful, mixed with rough breaths.

Thanks to Akainu's keen hearing, he even heard the grinding of teeth.

"That boy..."

"Sakazuki, what...?"

A marine soldier came after hearing the sound and asked for orders.

"Wait here."

Akainu headed toward the cabin, then suddenly stopped and ordered in a deep voice, "Bring some food."

"Yes!" The soldier bowed respectfully.

"Has that strange person woken up?"

Skye blinked and followed Akainu into the cabin.

She was not unfamiliar with Rorschach.

In the past few days, out of curiosity, she had followed Dr. Doss every time he went to the rest area to observe Rorschach.

In Skye's eyes, Rorschach resembled a naval officer in her memory.

Both were very thin, like a moving skeleton.

The only difference was that this skeleton's face was not frightening, and his body was bigger and stronger.

Despite his extreme thinness, Yunikari saw that Rorschach was not ugly, but his body was excessively thin.

It was likely due to long-term malnutrition.

She was young but sensitive.

She noticed from her father's behavior that Akainu was interested in this person.

This increased her curiosity about Rorschach.

In her memory, her father Sakazuki was very strict.

His daily routine consisted of chasing pirates or preparing to chase them.

In the large naval base, he only talked to his old officers and Borsalino.

General Sengoku once said, "Sakazuki is like a stone in a toilet, foul and hard."

If he were not very powerful, he would have been suppressed long ago.

Skye had never seen her father show such interest in any naval soldier before.

To uncover the truth, Skye used her special trick.

Cuteness.

It turned out that even strong men could not resist the charm of a cute child.

Especially Akainu, who became a father in his thirties and had a strict personality.

So, Skye learned that Rorschach was the "hero" who wiped out the entire Slaughterer Pirates crew.

This discovery made Skye remember Rorschach even more.

Because after seeing the Red Leaf Island for the first time, she had nightmares for five days.

Especially the sight of Captain Jericho, which made her hate soy products in the ship's restaurant.

The light in the rest area inside the ship was dim.

When Skye entered with Akainu, she heard the heavy thudding sound again.

Upon entering the rest area, they saw a tall, white-haired, extremely thin figure sitting hunched over on the bed, hitting his stomach with his fist.

Boom!

Boom!

The blows were so strong that the bed he was sitting on shook violently, as if it were about to collapse.

Boom!

Rorschach, with his long hair and bloodshot eyes, was hitting his stomach with his fist.

Skye, seeing this scene, hid behind Akainu.

Akainu looked on silently.

Boom!

Another blow.

With this blow, the bed finally couldn't bear it, and it broke with a crack, causing Rorschach to fall amid the wreckage.

Rorschach stared at the ground, his bloodshot eyes vacant.

His stomach was continuously convulsing, and the intense hunger gnawed at his heart like waves of the sea.

These waves pulled him from a dream he didn't want to wake up from.

────────────────────────────────────

"If you want an early access join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"